Steam-generating apparatus.



No. 743,386. PATENTED NOV. s, 1903.

I. V. HOLMES.

. STEAM GENERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 30. 1902.

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PATENTED NOV. 3, 1903.

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I. V. HOLMES.

STEAM GENERATING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED 001230, 1902.

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Patented November 3, 190a.

PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC V. HOLMES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STEAM-G EN ERATING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,386, dated November3, 1903.

Application filed October 30, 1902. Serial No. 129,421. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LISAAO V. HOLMES, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSteam-Generating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to steam-generating apparatus; and its objects areto preserve the life and maintain the efficiency of a boiler.

To these ends it consists in means for purifying boiler-water andcausing a forced circulation of water within the boiler, in meanswhereby the amount of water purged may be regulated and its circulationwithin the boiler controlled, and in means whereby the water within theboiler and not transformed into steam may be purged and repurgedcontinuously; and it further consists in the features of constructionand combination hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in theclaims hereto annexed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference-lettersindicate the same or corresponding parts, Figure 1 is in parta sectionalview and in part an elevation. Fig. 2 is in part an enlargedlongitudinal sectional view of the member L, which member is hereinaftermore fully described. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3 3of Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows at theextremities of said line. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on theline 4 4 of Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrowsat the extremities of said line.

Impurities are held in solution in cold water by reason of the gases andfixed air therein. the air and gases are freed therefrom, and theimpurities then becomein suspension. These and the other impuritieswhich were in suspension in the cold water will either sink therein orrise toward its surface, accordingly as they are of greater or of lessspecific gravity than the water. When this action takes place within aboiler, if the impurities are not removed therefrom before they can findlodgment on the walls thereof they will form mud or scale, or both, and,according to their nature, thickness, and location within the When thewater is snfliciently heated,

boiler, will impair its efficiency and shorten its life. When theabove-described action takes place within a feed-water heater, the

impurities are in all forms of devices heretofore known to the artcarried with the water from the heater to the boiler, in which latterthey Will be deposited in the form of mud or scale, or both, as theywould if the action first took place within the boiler, as hereinbeforedescribed. To maintain the efficiency and preserve the life of a boiler,thereby rendering it possible to obtain the best results from the usethereof, the feed-water should be purged of its impurities before beingdelivered to the boiler, a positive forced circulation of the waterwithin the boiler should be created and maintained, and the supply ofpurged water to and its circulation within the boiler should becontrollable.

In a separate application herefrom, filed simultaneously herewith andserially numbered 129,420, I have shown, described, and claimed anapparatus adapted to accomplish each and all of the above-statedrequirements. Hence I do not claim herein thematter claimed in saidapplication; but in order to even more efiectiveiy accomplish theobjects of this present invention I have provided additional purgingmeans whereby the gases and fixed air in the water proceeding to theboiler shall be eliminated therefrom and the impurities in solution inthe water shall be brought into suspension before the water is deliveredto the final purging device.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, A indicates a boiler; .13, a dishor skimmer; G, a

pipe connection communicating at one of its I ends with the water at orapproximate to the surface W thereof within the boiler and at its otherend with the pipe connection J and the combined mixer and eliminator Lin manner substantially as shown in the drawings; D, a centrifugalseparator, which separator is adapted (in the manner hereinafter morefully described) to eliminate suspended impurities from water passingthrough it, whether said impurities be of greater or of less specificgravity than the water; d, a passage for the exit of purged water fromthe separator, communicating at one end with the exit end of the drum ofthe separator and at its other end with the worm-pump E; F, a

pipe connection communicating at one of its ends with the exit end ofthe pump E and at its other end with the feed-water-receiving space Gwithin the boiler; H, a feed-pump of any suitable kind; it, a pipecommunicating with the exit end of the pump H and with the feed-Waterheater I, which heater may be of any desired kind; J, a pipe connectioncommunicating at one of its ends with the water-delivery end of thefeed-water heater I and at its other end with the receiving end of themixer L; K, a pipe connection communicating at one of its ends with thesteam space or dome of the boiler and at its other end communicatingwith and preferably projecting into the pipe connection Jin mannersubstantially as shown in Fig. 1, which end preferably terminates in asteam-jet or conical member K, adapted to form a steam-jet; L, a memberadapted in manner hereinafter more fully described to thoroughly mixWater proceeding from the feed-Water heater through the pipe Jand waterproceeding from the boiler through the pipe 0 to said member and toeliminate gases and air freed from said water; M, a pipe connectioncommunicating at one of its ends with the water-discharge end of thememberL and at its other end with the water-receiving end of theseparator D.

Assuming that the various pipe connections mentioned are open to theirrespective points of communication, that the pump H is operating todeliver to and expel from the feedwater heaterI five thousand pounds ofWater per hour, that said heater is sufficiently heating that amount ofwater in the time stated, that the boiler is filled with purged water tothe level W, (shown in dotted lines in the drawings,) and that theelectric motor @1 which revolubly controls the drum d of the separatorD, is revolving at a speed of, say, one thousand revolutions per minute,the operation of this form of my device is as follows: Water from theheater passes through the pipe connection J to the receiving end of themixer L, thence through the pipe connection M to the interior of therevolving drum (1 of the centrifugal separator D, whence, rid of itscontained impurities, it will pass through the passage (1 to the pump E,which will thereafter discharge it through the pipe connection F intothe feed-water-receiving space G Within the boiler, where it will minglewith the water therein. In passing through the mixer L the gases andfixed air are eliminated from the water. Hence when the water reachesthe drum of the separator the impurities will be in suspension therein.Being acted upon by the separator these impurities will be eliminatedfrom the water. It will be seen that in this manner, the feed-water isthoroughly purged before being delivered to the boiler. The capacity ofthe pump E We will assume to be seven thousand five hundred pounds ofWater per hour. Hence it will be seen it has a capacity of two thousandfive hundred pounds of water per hourin excess of the capacity of thepump H. The result of the operation of the pump E is therefore to createa suction of two thousand five hundred pounds of Water per hour throughthe pipe connection C, thence through the mixer L to the receiving endof the drum (1 of the separator, whence it will be drawn by the pump anddelivered to the water-receiving space G within the boiler. In passingthrough the mixer and the separator it is of course purged in the samemanner as the water proceeding from the feedwater heater. Thus it willbe seen that as the water within the boiler was or had been purgedpreviously to its being drawn through the pipe connection 0 from theboiler it will be again purged after passing through the pipe 0, asdesorihed,and that this purging and repurging will continue as long asthe controlling members are free to operate. It will also be seen thatthe quantity of Water drawn from the boiler and returned thereto will begreater than that stated if the amount of water proceeding from theheater to the boiler is lessened Thus if two thousand five hundredpounds of water per hour proceeds from the heater to the boiler fivethousand pounds of water per hour will be drawn from and redelivered tothe boiler by the pump E. The drawing off of the su rface water of thewater within the boiler and the returning of it (purged) to thefeed-water-receiving space Within the boiler creates a positive forcedcirculation of the water within the boiler. This forced circulation andthe quantity of water purged may beincreased or diminished byincreasingor diminishing the speed of the motor and of the pump E or by suitablyadjusting the valves (not shown) which respectively control the passageof the water through the pipe connections 0, J, and F or by regulatingeither or both the speed of the motor and of the pumps E H and adjustingsaid valves. The passage of steam from the boiler through the pipe K maybe controlled by the valve 70. When this valve is open, steam isprojected from the nozzle lo into the pipe connection J. The impact ofthe steam with the water=from the heater raises the temperature of saidwater to the temperature of the Water within the boiler and of the waterproceeding from the boiler through the pipe connection 0, with whichwater it mingles at the point of com munication j of the pipeconnections J O and the receiving end of the mixer. The water being soheated, practically no diminution of the temperature of the boiler-waterresults from the incoming of the feed-water, while the purity of thewater within the boiler is preserved. form of my novel combined mixerand the eliminator, which I will describe, reference being hadparticularly to Figs. 2, 3, and t of the drawings. In said figures, Lindicates the mixer as a whole; Z Z, concentric foraminated pipes ortubes; Z grooves or corrugations formed in the wall of the casing sur-In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown one IIC IIS

the greatest depth of the corrugations Z 1 rounding said pipes, saidcorrugations preferably increasing in depth from the receiving end ofthe mixer. (where their depth is substantially nothing) to a pointapproximate to the delivery end of the mixer; Z a groove preferably ofequal or of greater depth than a petcock controlling the escape from themixer of the liberated gases and air; Z a tubular member communicatingat one end with the pipe 1, which latter is controlled by 'the valve Zand at its other end communieating with and preferably supporting theforaminated concentric tubes Z Z in substantially concentric position tothe casing surrounding said tubes.

When Watersufficiently heated to bring into suspension its containedimpurities enters the mixer through the pipe J and tube Z and pipe andtube Z, it will pass through the foraminations in said tubes, becomingthere- 'by thoroughly mingled. As the water passes along through themixer toward the delivery end thereof it will carry said freed air andgases toward said end, they being borne along in said grooves until theyenter the pocket Z at which point they will congregate, their furtherforward movement being arrested by the wall of said pocket nearest thedelivery end of the mixer. .As frequently as desired said air and gasesmay be discharged from the mixer through the petcock Z Were these gasesand air not eliminated from the water, but allowed to reunite therewith,the matters in solution prior to the liberation of the gases and freeair would again become in solution. The advantage therefore ofeliminating said gases and air from the liquid and delivering the waterto the centrifugal separator, with its contained impurities held insuspension against all possibility of becoming again in solution, isobvious.

In the drawings I have illustrated one form of centrifugal device whichmay be employed to effect the purging of water from its suspendedimpurities whether they be of less.

or greater specific gravity than the water. Said device is specificallyclaimed, shown, and described in the. United States Letters Patent No.702,795, granted to me therefor on the 17th day of June, A. D. 1902.

Briefly describing said apparatus and its operation, D is the device asa whole; (1, a.

drum; (1, partitions radially disposed within the drum and secured tothe outer wall and to the hub cl thereof; d an annular member revolublewith the drum and secured to.

d, concentric outlet-passages for the dis-j charge of impurities of lessspecific gravity than is the water; (1 an electric motor. The pump E,member d partitions d, and drum d are secured one to another and to-themotor (1 by which they are revolubly controlled, and rotate upon theball-bearings d. Assuming the revoluble parts referred to to berevolving at a sufficiently high rate of speed and water containingimpurities of both greater and less specific gravity than it possessesto be entering the separator, the said heavier impurities will becentrifugally moved toward the wall of the drum, where they will settleand be discharged from the bottom of the drum through the outlet (1 andthe discharge-passage d while the said lighter impurities will becentrifugally moved toward the center of the drum, whence they willenter the pipe (1 through the apertures d following which they may bedischarged therefrom. The liquid thus freed from the heavier impuritiesupon the one side and the lighter impurities upon the other is renderedsubstantially pure between said points. Said purged water, by virtue ofits specific gravity, the pressure caused by water entering the drum,and the positive action of the pump E, will pass through the annularontlet-passage 01 (formed by the hub and the inner wall of the annularmember (i into the fixed chamber d where its rotary motion will bearrested by the fixed wings d Thence it will enter the pump and bedischarged therefrom through the pipe F to the waterreceiving space Gwithin the boiler. The retary motion of the purified water being, asdescribed, suddenly arrested by the fixed wings (1 upon its entering thechamber (2 foam or froth will thereby be created upon it, which frothand extraneous matters that may possibly not have been dischargedthrough the outlets d 01 may be discharged through the pipe d, whichcommunicates at one of its ends with said chamber. referring to thedrawings, d d are valves respectively controlling the passages d d, andc a flared end of the pipe connection C.

The device of my invention is applicable to stationary, marine,locomotive, or to whatsoever kind or' form of boiler.

The advantages of using purged water in boilers are too obvious to needexplanation. The advantages of creating a forced circulation are many,among which the following may be stated: Steam can be gotten up in muchquicker time than were the water within the boiler not given a forcedcirculation, and particles of extraneous matters of greater specificgravity than the water within the boiler are kept in constant movementtoward the surface of said water, whence they may be drawn off into theseparator and eliminated.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a valve m controlling the passageM. When for anyreason it is desiredv to wash out the mixer L, if the valve m be closedand the valve Z be opened A gain water may be forced through the mixerand out through the pipe Z carrying with itsuch deposits as may haveaccumulated in the mixer. This feature of my invention, while not anessential one, is, however, important in that it supplies a means ofeffectively cleaning the mixer without necessitating its being takenapart.

Itis obvious that instead of the foraminated tubes Z l these concentricforaminated passages may be formed of any suitable material, such aswire-gauze; that the foraminations in said tubes may be of anysufficient number; that any suitable number of these combined mixers andeliminators may be employed; that there may be as many foraminated tubesas desired, and that the number,

, size, and form of the various parts of said mixer may be greatlyvaried without departing from the principle of the invention; that anysuitable centrifugal device which will operate under positive pressureto eliminate impurities suspended in water may be employed instead ofthat herein described; that there may be as many centrifugal devicesemployed as desired; that any form of pump adapted to draw the purgedwater from the drum of the separator and deliver it to the boiler may beemployed; that said pump need not be connected to nor operated by thedrum-revolving means; that instead of an electric motor any suitabledrum-revolving means may be employed, as an engine and a pulleycontrolled by a belt or rope or gears operated by said engine or aturbine-motor; that the pipe 0 may communicate with the mixer L and withthe boiler at any suitable point; that said pipe may or may not beprovided with a flared end 0; that the skimmer may be omitted, ifdesired; that the pipe connection F may communicate With the dischargeend of the separator and with the water-receiving space of the boiler atany suitable point, and that the number, size, and form of the variousparts of the device may be changed without departing from the principleof the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a steam-generating apparatus, the

. combination of a separator adapted to eliminate freed air and gasesfrom water, a pipe connection communicating atone of its ends with saidseparator and at its other end with a source of hot-water supply, asecond separator adapted to separately eliminate from said water theheavy and light impurities in suspension therein, and a pipe connectioncommunicating at one of its ends with the delivery end of saidlast-mentioned separator and at its other end with the water-receivingspace within the boiler, substantially as described.

2. In a steam-generating apparatus, the combination of a boiler, aseparator adapted to eliminate freed air and gases from water,

a pipe connection communicating at one of its ends with the surfacewater within the boiler, and at its other end with the receiving end ofsaid separator, a second separator adapted to separately eliminate fromsaid water the heavy and light impurities in suspension therein, and apipe connection com munieating at one of its ends with the exit end ofsaid last-mentioned separator and at its other end with thefeed-water-receiving space within the boiler, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a steam-generating apparatus, the combination of a boiler, afeed-water heater, a separator adapted to eliminate from heated waterthe gases and air freed by the heating of said water, a pipe connectioncommunicating at one of its ends with the surface water of the waterwithin the boiler and at its other end with said separator, a pipeconnection communicating at one of its ends with said heater and at itsother end with said separator, a pipe connection communicating at one ofits ends with the steamdome or space of the boiler and at its other endwith said last-mentioned pipe connection,a second separator adapted toeliminate impurities in suspension in water, and a pipe connectioncommunicating at one of its ends with the exit end of saidlast-mentioned separator and at its other end with thefeed-water-receiving space within the boiler, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a steam-generating apparatus, the combination of a boiler, afeed-water heater, a separator adapted to eliminate from heated waterthe gases and air freed by the heating of said water, a pipe connectioncommunicating at one of its ends with said heater and at its other endwith said separator, a pipe connection communicating at one of its endswith the steam dome or space of the boiler and at its other end with thelast-mentioned pipe connection at or approximate to the waterreceivingend of said separator, and a second separator adapted to eliminateimpurities in suspension in water, and a pipe connection communicatingat one of its ends with the exit end of said last-mentioned separatorand at its other end with the feed-water-receiving space within theboiler, substantially as described.

5. In a steam-generating apparatus, a separator adapted to eliminatefrom heated water the gases and air freed by the heating of said water,said separator being provided with a foraminated tube, substantially as,and for the purpose, described.

6. In a steam-generating apparatus, the combination of a boiler and aseparator adapt- 'ed to eliminate from heated water the gases and airfreed by the heating of said water, said separator being provided with aplurality of foraminated tubes, substantially as, and for the purpose,described.

7. In a steam-generating apparatus, the combination of a boiler and aseparator adapted to eliminate from heated water the gases and air freedby the heating of said water,

" bined water-mixer and air and gas eliminator provided with aforaminated member, substantially as, and for the purpose, described.

9. As an article of manufacture, a combined water-mixer and air and gaseliminator provided with a plurality of foraminated members,substantially as, and for the purpose, described.

10. As an article of manufacture, a combined water-mixer and air and gaseliminator provided with a plurality of'substantially eoncentricallydisposed foraminated members, substantially as, and for the purpose,described.

11. As an article of manufacture, a combined Water-mixer and air and gaseliminator provided with a foraminated member and having longitudinalgrooves in the wall of the casing, substantially as, and for thepurpose, described.

12. As an article of manufacture, a combined water-mixer and gas and aireliminator having Within its casing a foraminated memher and groovesformed in the wall of the easing, which grooves have a greater depth ator approximate to the Water-exit end of the easing than at orapproximate to the water-receiving end thereof, substantially as, andfor the purpose, described.

13. As an article of manufacture, a combined-water-mixer and air and gaseliminator having a foraminated member within its casing, a plurality oflongitudinal grooves in the wall of the casing, and an annular groove orchamber approximate to the exit end of said casing, substantially as,and for the purpose, described.

14. As an article of manufacture, a combined water-mixer and air and gaseliminator having within its casing a foraminated member and in the wallof said casing grooves, which grooves terminate at or approximate to theexit end of the casing in an annular groove or chamber, substantiallyas, and for the purpose, described.

15. As an article of manufacture, a combined water-mixer and air and gaseliminator having within its casing a foraminated member and in the wallof said casing grooves, which grooves terminate at or approximate to theexit end of the casing in an annular groove or chamber, and meanscommunicating with said chamber whereby the air and gases accumulatedtherein may be liberated therefrom, substantially as, and for thepurpose, described.

16. As an article of manufacture, a combined water-mixer andair and gaseliminator having within its casing a foraminated member and in the wallof said casing grooves, which grooves terminate at or approximate to theexit end of the casing in an annular groove or chamber, and a petcockcommunicating with said chamber, substantially as, and for the purpose,described.

17. In a combined water-mixer and air and gas eliminator, thecombination of the following elements, viz. a casing; foraminatedmembers Z, Z; grooves l l and gas and air discharge means Z; allarranged and disposed substantially in the manner, and for the purpose,described. I

ISAAC V. HOLMES.

Witnesses:

CHARLES S. HILL, LYSANDER HILL.

